Cargo restraining device

ABSTRACT

A cargo restraining device including two rails mounted in a cargo storage area. Mounted on the rails are two U-shaped structures, each of which includes two arms and a crossbar. Attached between the two U shaped structures are two elongate bars. The U-shaped structures may be rotationally positioned using rotation adjustable clamps such that the cross bars are positioned against two sides of a cargo container. The elongate bars may be positioned against two other sides of the cargo, holding it in place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional application of pending U.S. application Ser. No.11/126,423, filed May 11, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present device relates to articles to secure cargo during transport.

BACKGROUND ART

Securing cargo during transport is needed to prevent damage or even lossof the cargo during transport. In addition, it is possible to damage thetransport vehicle if the cargo tips and falls into a cargo carryingarea. In addition, if the cargo area is open, such as in the back of apick up truck, the unsecured cargo can fall into a roadway, possiblycausing accidents or traffic delay.

One solution to this problem is to use ropes or cables to secure a load.However, securing the cargo is then time consuming, requires ropes orcables to be available, and may be difficult to secure for those notproficient in tying knots. In addition for a large, tall item (such as arefrigerator) in the back of a truck bed, it is difficult with ropes orcables to secure an relatively heavy item with a high center of gravityinto a truck bed. It is also very difficult with ropes or cables tosecure a load that is below the level of the bed. For example, in pickuptrucks, the tie locations are at the corners of the bed, near the topedge. Ropes tied between these tie locations would be at the level ofthe truck bed, and are little use for securing items below this level.

A number of attachment devices are available that are designed to securespecific items. For example, bicycle or motorcycle racks are availablethat mount onto a truck bed and allow fixing the tire by positioning thewheel within a confining track and securing a bar over the rim of thewheel. Such devices are limited to allowing transport of a specificitem.

An alternative device that is able to provide a simple means forsecuring cargo would be useful.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A cargo restraining device has been developed that includes two railsmounted onto the sides of a cargo area, for example, the sides of thebed of a pickup truck. Mounted on each rail are rotation adjustableclamps, with a front and a rear clamp attached to each of the rails. Theclamps allow attachments of arms such that the arms can be positioned inthree ways. First, location of the arm held by the clamp may beadjusted. Second, the rotational position of the arm may be adjusted.Third the clamp may be moved on the rail moving the arm along the rail.The front clamp on each rail will hold a front arm on each rail. Thesetwo arms (the two front arms held on the first and second rail by aclamp) are linked by a cross bar extending between the arms to form aU-shaped structure. Likewise, the back arms are also mounted on the backclamps on each rail and are also connected by a cross bar to form a backU-shaped retaining structure. Two longitudinal bars are clamped onto thecrossbars of each U-shaped retaining structure such that thelongitudinal bars may be selectively positioned on the crossbars.

To secure cargo, first the longitudinal bars could be removed leavingthe two (front and rear) U-shaped retaining structures. Then the armsand crossbars that form the U-shaped structure would be positioned suchthat at least one and usually both crossbars were proximate to the sidesof cargo being transported. For example, the crossbars would bepositioned proximate to the front and back sides of a crate to betransported. The elongate bars would then be adjusted such that they arepositioned against the sides of the cargo (e.g. the left and right sidesof a crate being transported). In this manner the cargo of various sizesand shapes could be secured.

The present device is able to retain cargo in a transport vehicle byadjusting to a range of different positions to securely hold cargo inplace. Such a device could be used in trucks, vans, trailers, airplanes,railroad cars, carts or any other cargo transport. The followingillustrations describe an embodiment of the device used with a pickuptruck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a pickup truck outfitted with anembodiment of the cargo restraining device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the arm adjustment clamp, arm and rail as shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a is a side view of an embodiment of the cargo restraining deviceas used with cargo that is lower than the edge of a pickup truck bed.

FIG. 3 b is a side view of an embodiment of the cargo restraining deviceas used with cargo that is taller than the bed of a pickup truck.

FIG. 3 c is a side view of an embodiment of the cargo restraining deviceas used with cargo that is both taller and longer than the bed of apickup truck.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rotation adjustable clamp.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the slide adjustable clamp for joiningtogether two elongate sections.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a rail that is configured to be securedalong the upper edge of the sidewalls.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a rotation adjustable clamp.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a load-bearing version of an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an embodiment in which a boat is securelypositioned.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a mount for retaining the end of an arm inmount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present device is able to retain cargo in a transport vehicle byadjusting to a range of different positions to securely hold cargo inplace. Such a device could be used in trucks, vans, trailers, airplanes,railroad cars, carts or any other cargo transport. The followingillustrations describe an embodiment of the device used with a pickuptruck.

With reference to FIG. 1, a pickup truck 10 includes a bed area 12,defined by a tail gate 14, and front wall 16 and side walls 18 a, 18 b.Mounted to the top of side walls 18 a, 18 b are rails 4 a, 4 b. Therails 4 a, 4 b are mounted (e.g., bolted) on the inside of the upperedge of the sidewalls of the truck bed.

With reference to FIG. 6, the rail 50, may be secured to rail mount bars51 a, 51 b by bolts 53 and bolts 57 a, 57 b respectively. Attached tomount bars 51 a, 51 b are brackets 54 a, 54 b by bolts 56. Brackets 54a, 54 b are secured to bars 54 a, 54 b. The combination of bracket andfitting may be secured onto a mount opening on the side wall of a pickuptruck, thereby securing the rail to the truck.

Alternatively the elongate rail sections are secured by bolts and nutsalong the length to the upper edge of the side walls. The rails couldalso be clamped into place or secured by other means.

Mounted on rails 4 a, 4 b are a number of rotation adjustable clamps. Onfirst side rail 4 a are mounted front rotation adjustable clamp 3 a andrear rotation adjustable clamp 3 b. On second side rail 4 b are mountedfront rotation adjustable clamp 3 c and rear rotation adjustable clamp 3d.

With reference to FIG. 4, each rotation adjustable clamp includes a tubesection 20. Lever handle 22 is joined to said tube section 20 such thatlocking down handle 22 constricts tube section 20. When an elongate tubesection (such as one of the arms of the device shown in FIG. 1) isplaced through tube section 20, depressing lever handle 22 constrictstube section 20. The constricted tube section 20 holds a elongate tubesection firmly in place.

Tube section 20 and lever handle 22 are fixedly mounted on wheel 24.Wheel 24 is mounted on an axle that extends through mount 32. Mount 32is then mounted on one of the rails shown in FIG. 7. Also extendingthrough the mount is a spring plunger 26. Spring plunger 26 extendsthrough mount 32, such that end 28 of spring plunger 26 extends throughone of the holes 30 on wheel 24. This spring plunger 26 may be pulledback, the wheel rotated and the end 28 inserted through a different holeon the edge of wheel 24. In this manner the arm held by this rotationadjustable clamp may be both rotated into a selected angular position,and have a length adjustment to adjust the length of the arm extendingfrom the clamp to a distal end.

With reference to FIG. 2, the adjustment of the rotation adjustableclamp 3 is illustrated. An arm 2 is secured in the clamp. The clamp ismounted on rail 4. Clamp 3 holds the arm 2 by a releasable lever suchthat the arm 2 may be positioned in the directions of arrows A. Inaddition, the arms may be rotated in the direction of arrows B by clamp3. This allows clamp 3 to selectively position the arms and the arm endsrelative to the cargo in a vehicle cargo holding area. In addition,clamp 3 may be selectively positioned on rail 4.

Returning to FIG. 1, held in each of rotation adjustable clamps 3 a, 3b, 3 c, and 3 d are arms 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d. As explained in conjunctionwith FIG. 4, arms 2 a-2 d, may be both selectively secured along alength, and selectively rotated by clamps 3 a-3 d to a selected angularposition.

Spanning arms 2 a and 2 c is a crossbar 1 a. Slide adjustable clamp 9 a,9 c secures the arms 2 a, 2 c respectively to crossbar 1 a.

With respect to FIG. 5, a slide adjustable clamp is shown. This clampincludes a tube section 40 and gripping jaws 42, 44. Actuation of leverhandle 46 both constricts tube section 40 and closes together jaws 42,44. In this manner elongate tube sections 41 and 43 may be securely heldby jaws 42, 44 and tube section 40 respectively.

Returning to FIG. 1, the arms 2 a, 2 c, and cross bar 1 a joined byclamp 9 a, 9 c form a first U-shaped structure for securing cargo. In asimilar manner, the arms 2 b, 2 d and cross bar 1 b joined by clamps 9b, 9 d form a second U-shaped structure located behind the firststructure. Each of these structures can be adjusted in a number of ways,including rotational adjustment of the arms, positioning of the arms onthe rotating clamps, and locating the crossbar at a position on thelength of the arm. Regardless of the position of the crossbar, for thepresent disclosure any combination of the two arms and a crossbar willbe considered a U-shaped structure.

Extending between crossbars 1 a, and 1 b are elongate (longitudinal)bars 5 a, 5 b, secured by clamps 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 d. The design of theclamps allows for quick and simplified removal of the longitudinal bars.The longitudinal bars 5 a, 5 b include two telescoping members thatexpand to the full length of the truck bed. The telescoping members inone embodiment are two tubes, with a narrower diameter tube inside alarger diameter tube. For example, a 32 mm outer diameter tube having a2.5 mm thick wall may be used with an 26 mm outer diameter inner tube.One location on each of the inner and outer tubes is held by a clamp,securing the elongate bar into place.

Using a device having the disclosed configuration, practically any cargothat can fit into the cargo area may be secured. With reference to FIG.3 a, a cargo container 70 is held by the cargo restraining device. Thefront and back of cargo 70 are held by cross bars 1 a, 1 b of thedevice. The device has been adjusted such that these sidebars arepressed against the sides of cargo 70. Longitudinal bar 5 a is alsomoved into a position such that it is against one of the sides of thecargo 70. This positioning of the crossbars is effected by rotationand/or extension of the arms 2 a, 2 b into a position such that the barsare resting against the front and back sides of the cargo 70.Longitudinal bar 5 is then positioned against one of the other sides ofthe crate, while a second longitudinal bar (not shown) rests againstanother side, such that four elongate bars retain the cargo in aselected position. The bars are all adjustably clamped into place, sopositioning of the bars is relatively simple. The two arms 2 a, 2 b arerotated into place, positioning the cross bars to brace two sides of thecargo. The longitudinal bar is then secured into place. It is relativelysimple using the clamp of FIG. 5, to detach the bar, adjust the arm, andreattach the bar.

In a similar manner, FIG. 3B shows the device securing cargo 72, whichextends above the edges of cargo holding area 12. Again arms 2 a, 2 bare positioned such that cross bars 1 a, 1 b are positioned in front ofand behind the front and back of cargo 72. Longitudinal bar 5 restrictsone side of the cargo from moving.

FIG. 3 c illustrates another oversize cargo 74 held in a cargo holdingarea 12. In this instance, arms 2 a and 2 b are adjusted so thatcrossbars 1 a, 1 b are in front of the front and over the top of cargo74 respectively. Arm 2 a is sufficiently long that it is able to extendbeyond tailgate 14. Longitudinal bar 5 extends at an angle from crossbar1 b to crossbar 1 a, securing a corner of cargo 74.

It is preferred that the device be of sturdy construction and durable.The rails, arms, crossbars, and longitudinal bars would all be made ofsteel. If desired, the steel could be chrome plated, painted orotherwise designed to enhance the appearance of the device and make itcorrosion resistant. It is also possible to make some or all componentsof lighter weight materials, but this is presently not preferred. Thearms may be elongate bars with a 32 mm outer diameter and a wallthickness of 2.5 mm. The device preferably is sufficiently rigid andsturdy such that it does not bend or twist during transport or usage.The crossbars and/or the longitudinal bars may include padding such thattransported cargo is not damaged. For example, if the cargo is amotorcycle, the longitudinal bars could be positioned below the handlebars of the motorcycle, and extend along the sides of the motorcycle.Foam padding or other slightly deformable padding on the longitudinalbars would prevent the bar from scratching the paint or chrome of themotorcycle.

The design of this cargo constraint device is modular. Additional partscan be added, substituted or removed from a basic system, depending onthe needs of the user. For example, more than two U-shaped retainingstructures may be used on a cargo restraining device. This may be usefulin a cargo compartment which is substantially longer than a truck bed.Additional elongate bars may be used. For example, if the cargo ismotorcycles or bicycles, additional elongate bars secured with clampsbetween the crossbars could allow additional bicycles or motorcycles tobe secured in the cargo area of the vehicle.

A number of variants of the cargo restraining systems are contemplated.These include:

1. Overhead Storage

With respect to FIG. 8, a load-bearing version of the device is shown.With fairly minor adjustments, the device can be adapted to be not justa cargo carrying device, but also an overhead rack. In FIG. 8, arms 2 aand 2 b are positioned to extend from a pickup truck bed. As shown, thearms are vertical. Crossbar 1 extends between arms 2 a, 2 b. A modifiedclamp 110 replaces the clamp of FIG. 4. In this type of clamp, twojoined constricting tube sections are used. Arm section 112 includes aplurality of through holes 114. The tubular clamp section also includesa through hole. A pin 116 may be fitted through the hole on the clamp,through a hole on each side of the arm tube and then be secured by acotter pin or other similar securing means. The crossbar 1 may besecured by pin 118 in a similar manner. This modification of the clampallows the U-shaped structure to bear an overhead load without theclamps slipping. The lumber 115 may be held between two crossbars, aswould be the case in a welded overhead rack. One crossbar is shown inFIG. 8.

This idea may be modified to adapt to transport of other items. In FIG.9, the cargo retaining device is shown holding a boat on the overheadracks. The arm 2 and crossbar 1 are attached by a clamp 110 as shown inFIG. 8. The elongate bars 5 a, 5 b flank the sides of the boat 125 andextend between the crossbars. A resilient cushion 122 on crossbar 1prevents damage to the surface of the boat that rests on the cushion. Astrap 120 secures the boat 125 to the elongate bars 5 a, 5 b.

With respect to FIG. 10, a mount for retaining the end of an arm in amount could be used for adapting the device to carrying overhead loads.A footing 130 mounted on the truck bed would receive an end of one arm.A plurality of holes 132 on mounting 130 would receive a pin which wouldbe placed through the holes on the mounting, through holes spaced alongthe end of the arm, and back through the mounting, where the pin wouldbe secured by a nut, cotter pin, or other means. This would prevent thearm from slipping or changing position to a new angular position. Inaddition, this would transfer the overhead load to the bed of the truck,preventing stress on the rail and on the mounting of the angularadjustment clamps. The combination of the footing and the modified clampshould allow for adaptation of the cargo restraining device to a verysecure overhead rack.

2. Tent

The cargo restraining device could also be modified to act as a framefor turning the bed of a truck onto a tented area. If the arms wereraised to a position above the bed of the truck, a sheet of materialcould be draped over the cross bars such that the exposed sides of thetruck were covered. This material could be secured to the tubes by asimple resilient clamp that would flex fit over a short section of anarm or elongate bar to retain the material.

3. Motorized Device

One of skill in the art would be able to adapt the present invention toan automatic device by adding a motor at location 32 in FIG. 4. That wasable to automatically advance the position of the rotationallyadjustable clamp.

4. Locking Device

It would also be fairly simple to adapt the present device such that thearms could be locked into place such that the cargo in the storage bedcould be secured. Lever handles 21, 22 could be fitted with lock means,such as a hole to receive a padlock, which would be secured onto theclamp. It would also be possible to manufacture a hole in the arms towhich lever handles 21, 22 are attached such that a padlock bar or otherlock bar could pass through each arm and a hole 30 on wheel 24, securingboth the handles and the wheel.

1. A device for securing cargo in a cargo area during transport, saidcargo area including a set of sides and a top edge, said cargo areafurther including a tail gate, comprising: a set of u-shaped attachmentstructures, said u-shaped attachment structures including a set ofparallel arms and a crossbar connecting a first u-shaped attachmentstructure to a second u-shaped attachment structure; a first set ofrotation adjustable clamps configured to position said first u-shapedattachment structure in a first angle to said top edge, said first setof rotation adjustable clamps further positioned on said top edge; asecond set of rotation adjustable clamps configured to position saidsecond u-shaped attachment structure in a second angle to said top edge,said second set of rotation adjustable clamps further positioned on saidtop edge; a set of elongated bars coupling said first u-shapedattachment structure and said second u-shaped attachment structure. 2.The device of claim 1, further including a deformable paddingsubstantially covering said set of elongated bars.
 3. The device ofclaim 2, wherein said crossbar is adjustably positionable along said setof parallel arms.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said crossbar isattached to said set of parallel arms by a set of mechanically securableclamps.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said top edge includes a setof rails, wherein a mechanically securable clamp of said set ofmechanically securable clamps is attached to at least one of said setrails.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein each of said set ofmechanically securable clamps is configured to be selectively positionedalong at least one of said set rails.